2.11 Previous headcount reduction initiatives have led to the Department recognising the importance of having an agreed baseline of personnel numbers to monitor the progress of reducing headcount against targets. To develop good monitoring data, the Department needs to: agree a start and end date; develop clear criteria about what it will measure; develop good quality data to allow consistent measurement to be made; and regularly report results.
2.12 The Department acknowledges shortfalls in its information about its civilian workforce and has been taking steps to improve its information. Its analytical service has recently created an agreed baseline that includes civilians for whom the Department is financially responsible, but excludes military personnel in civilian posts, and intends to publish this as a national statistic. This will help the Department to monitor progress against headcount reduction targets. The Department has good baseline information about its military personnel and it regularly reports on the number of military personnel through various national statistical publications.